J.R. Fitzpatrick ready to get after it in APC Series season opener

CAMBRIDGE, ON – As far as JR Fitzpatrick is concerned, the drive to become a Pro Late Model champion is still very much alive, after having a great testing session at sunset, the mutual series passed champion is ready to take a serious run at his 1st APC championship.

Fitzpatrick is ready to rebound from a pair of mechanical failures. During Flamboro’s May 12th Season Opener, Fitzpatrick impressed with a number of laps spent at the front of the field, before a late-race mechanical issue saddled him with a frustrating DNF, and he also suffered one in a practice session.

“We’ve never been the team to run away and give up when things don’t go our way,” says Fitzpatrick of his Cambridge Rigging-sponsored unit. “In moments like these, it’s time to dig in and really think about how badly you want it.”

“I know that we have the knowledge and the equipment to become the best Pro Late Model team in Ontario,” adds the fan-favourite. “If we need to get through some ups-and-downs on our way there - then so be it. We’re going to get to the top of this division because we’re ready to do whatever we need to do to make it happen.”

Now, Fitzpatrick and his team are hard at work to ensure they’re ready for Round 2 of Flamboro’s weekly season this Saturday, May 19th.

“We already have Opening Night behind us and out of our minds,” assures Fitzpatrick. “I’m ready to win and so is my team. We’re coming into Saturday ready to take what’s thrown our way and adjust as the night goes on.”

“We know that we can’t just unload at Flamboro with anything less than our best and expect to go to the front,” continues the former CASCAR National champion. “The teams we’re racing against are true professionals. They take their craft seriously, which means we have to do the exact same if we expect to beat them.”

So, while the start of Fitzpatrick’s return to weekly competition has been far from the glamorous affair some had envisioned, there’s no questioning his dedication as he prepares to step right back into competition this Saturday.

“This is what we live for,” says Fitzpatrick of local Late Model racing. “So, no matter how many times we get knocked down, we’re going to keep coming back until we get where we feel we deserve to be.”

“I couldn’t ever ask for a better team of people to have around me,” continues the Cambridge, ON native. “Every single person on this team wants this every bit as bad as I do. They support me on the good days and the bad, and that’s all the motivation I need to keep going.”